The 37 Best Gifts for Dads That He’ll Actually Use (and Won’t Abandon in the Garage)
We can all agree that dads are impossible to shop for. Golf club? He bought it for himself. Tie? He’s got 47 of them. So, whether you’re helping the little ones shop for Daddy or picking out the perfect present for your own old man, getting him something that won’t end up in the garage is a real challenge. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up the 37 best gifts for dads this Father’s day, all guaranteed to stay in the rotation.
1. For the coffee addict: Blue Bottle Coffee Subscription
Thanks to Blue Bottle, there will be no more frantic morning runs to the grocery store when he realizes he’s out of dark roast. Simply select the three month or six month option, and a changing selection of the specialty coffee roaster’s whole beans will arrive on his doorstep every other week. If he’s particular, opt for the ‘create your own’ subscription which allows you to select the type of coffee, delivery frequency and number of shipments.
2. For the dad who’s always prepared: Yeti Roadie 20 Cooler
“We got my dad one of these because he’s notorious for packing coolers for car trips—even if they’re only an hour long,” explains food editor Katherine Gillen. It’s just big enough to hold some drinks and a few sandwiches without being a pain to lug around. Oh, and Yeti mentions that the tough exterior is grizzly proof (if you add a couple locks to the top) so it’ll easily withstand years of wear and tear.
3. For the fitness enthusiast: Lululemon Pace Breaker Short
We can all agree it’s well-past the time he should have retired those basketball shorts from college, and gifting him a pair of these will make him forget all about them. The lightweight, sweat-wicking style is designed to be a “multi-sport short” meaning he can wear them for any kind of workout—which is what he was probably going to do anyway. And they’re super comfortable too. “These are the best fitting shorts I own,” confirms one reviewer.
4. For the grill master: Meater Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer
If Pops prides himself on being the grill master, this handy device will help him perfect his rib-eye. Just stick the thermometer in the meat while it’s on the grill or in the oven and it will send an alert to your phone or tablet when it’s done…just in case he wants to grab a beer and enjoy the game while he “multitasks.”
5. For the music lover: Sony Noise Canceling Headphones
These headphones are so good, PureWow named them the best splurge-worthy pair. With industry-leading digital noise cancellation technology, they’re nearly soundproof when it comes to background noise. The coolest part? You can control the volume, skip songs or take calls all with touch-activated technology. Oh, and did we mention that they have a 30-hour battery life?
6. For the guy who’s always on the go: J.Crew Abingdon messenger bag
All men deserve a really nice bag, and his beat-up backpack just isn’t cutting it. The exterior pockets on this little number have hidden magnetic snaps for a sleek look, while the inside has a padded laptop sleeve and multiple compartments for his keys, phone, pens—you name it.
7. For the sentimental guy: Shutterfly Custom Photo Book
“My dad loves these Shutterfly books. I put one together every year with photos from our family vacations and he’s obsessed,” says director of social strategy Aly Owens. All it takes is 15 minutes of clicking and dragging family photos (but he doesn’t have to know that).
8. For the handyman: Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool
The Signal is a combination of 19 of his favorite tools all in one. From a fire-starting ferro rod to a box wrench to hard-wire cutters, he’ll never be caught unprepared again.
9. For the outdoorsman: Everest Double Camping Hammock with Mosquito Net
It’s clear that his least favorite part of the camping trip is always setting up the tent. This camping hammock eliminates that issue. All he has to do is hook it to two trees, zip himself up under the heavy mosquito mesh and he’s good for the night. It’s lightweight too, so he won’t mind carrying it in his pack for a few days.
10. For the world traveler: Airbnb Gift Card
The only thing better than surprising Dad with a trip? Surprising him with an Airbnb gift card so he can choose where he goes next. Select your custom amount and Amazon will send the gift card right to his inbox. We’re guessing it’ll be the best email he’s received in a while.
11. For the aspiring sommelier: Winc Wine Subscription
He’s always looking to sample new wines, and now he can do so from the comfort of his own kitchen. Have him take the six question palate profile quiz, and the experts at Winc will recommend four wines they think he’ll like. He can order those, or make swaps and additions as he’d like. Every month, he’ll get hand-picked wines delivered straight to his door.
12. For the bibliophile: ‘Dreyer’s English’
It’s not that your father is a know-it-all…it’s just that he’s always right. For any bibliophile, grammarian or just plain rules enthusiast, Dreyer’s English is a delightful romp through clarity and style, all told with humor and authority by the Random House copy chief. (Bonus: It’ll give Dad a chance to weigh in on the proper use of parentheses.)
13. For the dog lover: BigArtFamily Custom Pet Portrait
It’s no secret that Spot is his favorite “child” so you might as well embrace it. Send in a photo of your pet and this Etsy seller will create a hand-painted watercolor portrait that Pops will want to frame immediately.
14. For the well-groomed guy: Birchbox Grooming Box
Contrary to popular belief, Birchbox isn’t just for women. This men’s grooming box features a monthly assortment of high-end shaving, skin and hair products for him to sample. Now maybe he’ll stop secretly using your face wash.
15. For the techie: Apple Watch Series 5
He’s been eyeing the latest Apple Watch for months, but would never get one for himself. That’s where you come in. Gift him the newest version which boasts longer battery life, an always-on retina display and advanced workout metrics (if that’s something he’s interested in).
16. For the wannabe pizza chef: Authentic Pizza Ovens Portable Maximus Oven
“My dad has been wanting an outdoor pizza oven forever,” says editorial director of branded content Angela Cuneo. And now that we think about it, so has ours. This wood fire oven will bring his dream to life—without being a total eyesore in the backyard. It weights just 130 pounds, making it relatively easy to transport should he insist on bringing it to the next big family cookout.
17. For the fisherman: Mystery Tackle Box Subscription
Fishing season is here, so naturally Dad wants to start testing out new lures and techniques. Sign him up for Mystery Tackle Box and he’ll get $25 worth of new baits every month. Just select the type of fish he’s looking to catch and how long you want the subscription to last for and you’re good to go.
18. For the foodie: Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker with Timer
We don’t even want to think about how much money he’s spent on bacon, egg and cheeses over the years. Now, he can make them right at home whenever a craving hits. This brilliant (but affordable) machine caters to his lazy Sunday morning with a built-in timer that tells him when it’s ready, usually in five minutes or less. Plus, the removable parts can go right in the dishwasher for easy clean up.
19. For the golfer: Maxfli 23’’ Chipping Net
It’s every golfer’s dream: He can finally practice his chipping skills in the backyard. It features three different chipping brackets, as well as customizable options so he can perfect his chip and short wedge shots before heading out on the course.
20. For the dad with his own personal man cave: Magic Chef Stainless Steel Mini Fridge
He’s been known to descend downstairs with a couple of beers in hand, just so he doesn’t have to hike back up and risk missing an important play. Now, he can reach into this best-selling mini fridge for another without even taking his eyes off of the game. Its 4.4 cubic feet of storage offers more than enough room to store his Bud Lights (and a few snacks, too).
21. For the diehard sports fan: Fanchest
Surprise him with a box of gear from his favorite sports team (think beer koozies, t-shirts, throw blankets and hats) to add to his collection. We wouldn’t be surprised if he puts some of it on immediately.
22. For the history buff: Ginger Fox Placing the Past History Themed Card Game
Now’s your chance to really test him on his historic date knowledge. Placing the Past is a game of time and risk that requires players to place their hand of historical events in the correct order to earn points. Honestly, not our idea of fun but he’ll be all over it.
23. For the funny guy: ‘The Very Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes’
This collection of dad jokes from around the world is guaranteed to have him laughing out loud. Fingers crossed he doesn’t memorize too many of them, though.
24. For the dapper dad: Menlo Club Subscription Box
Have him fill out the quick style quiz and Menlo Club will send him two or three curated pieces of clothing and accessories from the brand’s in-house men’s labels each month. His already-stylish wardrobe is about to get even trendier.
25. For the clean freak: Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Got a real life Danny Tanner on your hands? Gift him this ultra-powerful vacuum that sucks up dirt and debris from hardwoods and carpet with ease. The cordless design offers 40 minutes of continuous use, so he can hit those hard-to-reach areas behind the couch and on the stairs if he’s feeling ambitious.
26. For the couch potato: CouchCoaster
As the name implies, this weighted drink holder wraps over the arm of your couch for convenient access. Buyers note that it’s stable and can withstand a slight knock (just in case he happens to elbow it by mistake).
27. For the gamer: Nintendo Switch Lite Zelda Fan System Bundle
Nintendo Switches and Switch Lites are sold out pretty much everywhere right now—but you can still get one from GameStop if you buy it in a game bundle. Which isn’t a bad idea, considering he was probably going to buy a Zelda game anyway. Just keep in mind that the Switch Lite doesn’t have removable controllers like the original, if that’s something that’s important to him.
28. For the guy who lives in sweats: Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpants
If he’s going to insist on wearing sweatpants 24/7, at least let them be cool ones. Outdoor Voices’s signature CloudKnit material is super soft, so he won’t object to wearing them, and the jogger design makes them slightly more acceptable to wear in public, which you know he inevitably will.
29. For the new dad: Tile Pro Black with Replaceable Battery (2-Pack)
He was always losing his keys and wallet before, but now that the new dad will be sleep deprived, it’s truly a lost cause. Enter: the Tile Pro. Stick one on his key ring and one on his wallet and the app will tell him where they are the next time they go missing.
30. For the plant lover: Meyer Lemon Tree
Even if he already has a monstera, philodendron and fiddle leaf fig to dote on, we can pretty much guarantee he doesn’t have a Meyer lemon tree yet. 1-800-Flowers will help you change that. Once it arrives, the two-year-old tree can be planted in the ground, or left to grow in the pot. Either way, his green thumb will be happy.
31. For Grandpa: Knock Knock ‘What I Love About Grandpa’ Fill in the Love Journal
Each page contains prompts like ‘If I had to describe you in one word, it’d be’ and blank spaces to glue pictures, making for a touching book that he’ll flip through over and over. Have the kids fill it out in their own handwriting for an extra sweet touch.
32. For the whiskey drinker: Aberfeldy 16 Year Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Aberfeldy is beloved by seasoned whiskey drinkers and newbies alike, thanks to its rich flavor. This particular variation has been aged for 16 years in handmade oak casks, making for a satisfying, slightly fruity finish that he’ll definitely want to brag to his drinking buddies about.
33. For the board game king: Codenames Board Game
Codenames just came out a few years ago, but board game fans are already starting to refer to it as a classic. The strategy game involves playing as two rival spymasters and their teams going head-to-head to see who can make contact with all of their agents first.
34. For the lawn obsessed dad: Troy-Bilt Riding Lawn Mower
A ride on mower is a sure sign that he’s moved up in the world, and all the neighborhood dads will be jealous. This particular model has easy speed control and a range of cutting deck options so he can choose what works best for your yard.
35. For the movie junkie: Hulu Subscription
By now, he’s probably blown through everything he wants to see on Netflix. The natural next step? A Hulu subscription. Hulu has thousands of comedies, dramas, documentaries and thrillers that frankly put Netflix’s library to shame.
36. For the workaholic: Symple Stuff Standing Desk Converter
If you can’t get the old man to step away from the computer, at least you can get him to stand up while he works. This standing desk converter will be a godsend for his bad back. It sits on top of an existing desk and is totally adjustable so that he can shift it up and down throughout the day.
37. For the puzzle master: Wrebbit Midtown East New York 3D Puzzle
When 1,000-piece endeavors become a breeze, it can be hard to find a puzzle that keeps him occupied. This 875-piece 3D puzzle should do the trick. Plus, Mom won’t mind having it on display for a few weeks once it’s finally done.
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